Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-06-09
A RUNAWAY TRAIN.

4, Atedke ofa boy, the fifteen-year-olt
= son OF locomotive engineer, who haC
A often ridden with his father and "knew
: the engine pooty WELL" Indeed the
engineer had frequently let the boy
drive" on a long stretch of straight
: track. 2.
/ One night he left ''Dave'' in charge
of the engine on a siding, while he
went to supper as usual There came
, up furious wind; and, after a little,
some cars shot by without an engine
, The wind had started them. Boy,
think quick! Down grade! The
Lightning Express is to come that
way!
Nobody near. No telegraph wire
The trains are headed together. There
is less than an hour to catch those run
away cars and pull them out of the
way. No time for hesitation! He
springs to the lever, picks up speed and
tears away with grade and wind and
steam like whizzing arrow.
They are miles ahead. The rushing
minutes are full of sudden comprehen-
sion. He almost sees through the dark,
ttemptestuous night. What set him
flying toward this plunge was thought
of the Lightning Express. Now dan
ger takes hold of him. What if he is
just too late! The runaway train is
in sight! Off steam! No, on again!
Let the story-teller tell the rest.
| He must slow up, but do it so nicely
that, when he does come up'with them,
there shall be the least possible shock;
for here is the hardest part of the busi-
ness. He has nobody to help him
couple" He must be, for the nOnce,
both engineer and switchman. He had
not thought what formidable job this
was until it stared him in the face.
On he flew revolving the situation in
his head and adjusting his engine with
the incest care until he was upon the
| very heels of the runaway; then, with
many misgivings, slipped out of the
engine house and crawled along the
side of the locomotive, and down on
the "cOw-catcher."
Here, seizing the long coupler in one
hand and holding on with the other,
he stood watching with breathless in
terest the approaching collision. The
suspense was agonizing. The situation
was perilous. A gust of wind might
sweep him from his place, he might be
shaken off or crushed. Il 8
AAC was dilllOoO pStulC-SbIIChcIs "A
dozen times he was at the point of turn
ing back. To his startled ears the air
was full ofuncanny sounds-the sweep
of another tornado, the rush of the
:" lightning Express" just ahead. But
he had in him. the stuff which heroes |
are made of. The hero, remember, is
notil1e who is insensible to danger, but |
rather he who feels and realizes, but |
yet Overcomes it.
The "Meteor" drew nearer and |
nearer the flying train. Dave had used
excellent judgment in regulating its
speed; for at length it came up with
the rear car with scarcely shock, so
that Dave could reach over and drop in
the pin. n gEAi w gEErs f~
Then clambering back into the engine
house with trembling eagerness he
seized the throttle" To his amaze
ment the train did not stop. Instead
Of the "Meteor's stopping the runaway,
the runaway dragged 1.-The "Meteor"
alongin its headlong flight. Dave was
horror-struck. He had thought the
train would stop at once. He had not
what q tremendous impetus
all those heavy cars had acquired.
Now, then, the tussle! The train be-
gan to slow up. 1t, came toa stand
still. Then the backward pull. Slowly
they got under way; but the wind and
Up grade were against them.
Dave began to get anxious. HThe
must be due by this time.
He kepta sharp lookout behind and
like mad around the curves.
At length he entered upon the long,
straight level line of road which ex-
ended clear to ~ Blankton. Dave
oreathed freer. 1t was the home
jtretch-a good ten-mile run.
Hardly had he congratulated himself,
when far behind-but unmistakably-1
he heard the scream of the Light
ling'sn whfstle. He was going al
'eady at his topmost speed. He was
making not more than thirty-five
niles an hour, While the lightning"
vas coming on at the rate of SIXTY
With horror he heard it gaining on
lim; the next whistle was nearer and
it length when he had made only two
birds the distance THE sgleamE of
is head-lghtcame shooting round |
Wooded. curve In his rear. sSF+ " ~
Out of the very despair of the mo-
nent. Dave gathered calmness. He
urned his back on the pursuing train,
lie cast no look behind, he shut his .
ars to its On-coming roar; looked
traight ahead, kept his eye on the
rack, his mind on his duty.
= He is almost there-he is there, he
ashes past the station house., across
he switch and down at last upon the
ide track.
1T is'all right. Jake and Jim are
here They have thrown the switch